Anciently, there was no clear delineation between religion and what we now call magic. They were one and the same. Thus, ancient witchcraft, was a form of idolatry. The most famous of the magic seekers was one Simon Magnus, though an argument might be made for Balaam.

So, it is fascinating to take a look at Jewish magic, and how the rabbis handle it. They handle it very sacredly. To the Jews, those were holy rites, perhaps in the vein of Isaiah 6:5-7. They put in a lot of warnings and often leave out the crucial ingredient in the spells and curses. They may even want to interview you before selling you a book. This reminds me of how they edited their own scriptures to leave out the most sacred parts, in order to keep them safe. At times, they even considered rioting to keep these things safe out of the hands of those unprepared for them.

My love of fantasy literature notwithstanding, we have nothing exactly like this. We have faith and prayers, and priesthood power, and keys, but if I want to call down fire on my enemies, I am woefully underarmed.